Malty or Hoppy

[blackrat]

Hi Guys,
I like my beer, but here's the thing, when someone describes as beer as Hoppy or Malty I don't know what that tastes like.

Using commercial beers such as Stella, Guinness ect, could you give me (several) examples of a beer that is particularly Hoppy or Malty (not both that will only confuse me)

Then when I read reviews I will have a better idea what you mean. The other thing is, that if I haven't tried the beer you mention I will have to go out and get a pint so that I know what you are talking about, for scientific review purposes of course

Cheers

 

[kev]

Commercial beers aren't the best place to start when learning about flavour profiles.

Check out your bottled ale section in your local supermarket. Most have tasting notes on the back to help you.

K

 

[Vossy1]

Using commercial beers such as Stella, Guinness ect, could you give me (several) examples of a beer that is particularly Hoppy or Malty (not both that will only confuse me)

As Kev said the bottled section of your supermarket is the place to start.
In general the darker the beer the more malty the taste, the lighter the beer the less malty it usually is, however dark beer can still be hoppy
Widely available bottled,
Pale hoppy mellow end: Badgers Golden Glory,
Pale hoppy extreme end: Brew Dogs Punk IPA, even more extreme Brew dogs Hardcore IPA.
Malty: Theakstons Old Peculiar, Youngs Special London.

The above is a sweeping generalisation but will get you in the right area.
You might find the Brew Dogs beers very bitter :thumb:

 

[jamesb]

The last few times I had a Youngs Special it just tasted of pure isoamyl acetate. Not pleasant at all.

 

[Vossy1]

James, can you describe the taste :hmm:

 

[jamesb]

I can do better than that, I can give you a picture.

 

[Vossy1]

I coudn't be bothered googling it....if you'd have said ester I would have been on track :lol:
Interesting :hmm: I used to drink it regularly in bottles, about 2 years ago the taste was rank....I'd describe it as washing up liquid but we all perceive things differently...could well have been esters, though I wouldn't say it was a fruity taste/smell to me...though I'm not trained so it could have been...anyway...I sent a bottle back and the head brewer got in touch with me.
He said it was a specific batch, probably caused due to the installation of a new piece of kit on the bottling line (I can't remember what it was, think it was a UV steriliser) and the bottles might have been 'stuck' longer than they should have been. He sent me a box, different batch number, and all was fine. A few months later the same thing happened, I reported it back and he was pretty adamant there was no issue I've stopped buying it myself, it's not what it was, it's 'hit and miss'